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2026-09-10 06:05 UTC → 2026-09-27 03:12 UTC ·
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Chennai sanitary workers suspend protest over wage sanitation workers' demands and job meal allowance shift
Sanitary Following the suspension of their protest, sanitation workers in Chennai, represented by the Uzhaippor Urimai Iyakkam (UUI), Chennai have engaged in prolonged protests at the Ripon Building continued to demand labor reforms and job regularization. By the sixth day of demonstrations, the Tamil Nadu government, through School Education Minister A Rajmohan, agreed advocate for livelihood rights, specifically seeking to consider several specific demands. These included increasing the increase daily wage wages from Rs 751 762 to Rs 832, providing maternity leave for a third child, offering menstrual leave for certain workers, 832 and reinstating 13 workers. However, protesters continued their demonstrations because securing permanent employment status. Legal representative Durai Arun criticized the government’s response, suggesting that political figures have used revolutionary slogans like ‘Jai Bhim’ at protest sites for political gain without resolving core demands regarding job permanency, weekly holidays, and quality housing remained unaddressed. By grievances, such as the eighth day, more than 250 cleanliness regularization of contract workers continued their protest. While who have completed 240 or 480 days of service. In a significant administrative shift, the Greater Chennai Corporation reportedly assured workers that the 13 remaining individuals would be reinstated, demonstrators continued to seek a meeting with Chief Minister C Joseph Vijay to address their 11-point charter and long-standing grievances regarding working conditions and the outsourcing of garbage collection. Following 16 days of demonstrations, workers agreed (GCC) has moved to suspend their protest at the Ripon Building premises until October 3 after negotiations replace its cooked meal system with state ministers, including N Anand, Aadhav Arjuna, A Rajmohan, and CTR Nirmal Kumar. The government committed to several demands, such as a daily food allowance of Rs 50 starting in October, providing toilets and rest areas in all 200 wards by September 30, and withdrawing legal cases against 50. This change affects 24,264 workers and union leaders. Other promises included 300 new battery-operated vehicles, raincoats by October 10, employed through private agencies and compensation for nine self-help groups. The decision follows a citywide survey where approximately 92 per cent of workers who died on duty between May expressed a preference for cash over the existing meal scheme, citing issues with food quality, hygiene, and August. Minister Bussy Anand noted that late deliveries. A Government Order issued on September 21 cancelled the state’s current financial condition has limited existing three-year food supply contract. The new allowance will be paid alongside monthly salaries based on days worked. The GCC expects the ability to meet all demands immediately, and a second round of talks is scheduled annual expenditure for early October. this transition to be approximately Rs 44.28 crore, funded by its own resources.